Hisashi Katsuta (勝田 久, Katsuta Hisashi; 2 April 1927 – 21 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is…Hisashi Katsuta (勝田 久, Katsuta Hisashi; 2 April 1927 – 21 February 2020) was a Japanese actor and voice actor. He is best known for his voice-over portrayal of Professor Ochanomizu in three anime adaptations of the Astro Boy franchise, and also voiced Dr. Hoshi in Astroganger (1972–1973), Professor Tobishima in Groizer X (1976–1977), and Shin'ichirō Izumi in Tōshō Daimos (1978–1979).
Teiji Takahashi (高橋 貞二, Takahashi Teiji; 20 October 1926 – 3 November 1959) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in…Teiji Takahashi (高橋 貞二, Takahashi Teiji; 20 October 1926 – 3 November 1959) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than twenty films from 1950 to 1959. Takahashi died in a traffic accident.
Chiyonosuke Azuma (東 千代之介, Azuma Chiyonosuke; 19 August 1926 – 9 November 2000) was a Japanese actor and Nihon-buyō…Chiyonosuke Azuma (東 千代之介, Azuma Chiyonosuke; 19 August 1926 – 9 November 2000) was a Japanese actor and Nihon-buyō dancer. He appeared in more than 40 films from 1954 to 1993.
Noboru Ando (Japanese: 安藤 昇, Hepburn: Andō Noboru; 24 May 1926 – 16 December 2015) was a Japanese actor, writer, singer…Noboru Ando (Japanese: 安藤 昇, Hepburn: Andō Noboru; 24 May 1926 – 16 December 2015) was a Japanese actor, writer, singer and former yakuza. He is known for utilizing his experiences as a criminal in his many roles in yakuza films. He had a large knife scar on his left cheek, the result of a brawl with a Korean gangster as a young man.
Sachio Sakai (堺 左千夫, Sakai Sachio; 8 September 1925 – 11 March 1998), born Yukio Abe (阿部 幸男, Abe Yukio), was a Japanese…Sachio Sakai (堺 左千夫, Sakai Sachio; 8 September 1925 – 11 March 1998), born Yukio Abe (阿部 幸男, Abe Yukio), was a Japanese actor. In 1947, he made his film debut with Akira Kurosawa's One Wonderful Sunday. He often worked with Akira Kurosawa and Kihachi Okamoto.
Akira Kume (久米 明, Kume Akira; February 8, 1924 – April 23, 2020) was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator. As of…Akira Kume (久米 明, Kume Akira; February 8, 1924 – April 23, 2020) was a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator. As of 2019, with his role as the narrator of the NHK show Tsurube's Salute to Families, he was the world's oldest active voice actor.
Seijun Suzuki (鈴木 清順, Suzuki Seijun), born Seitaro Suzuki (鈴木 清太郎, Suzuki Seitarō) (24 May 1923 – 13 February 2017)…Seijun Suzuki (鈴木 清順, Suzuki Seijun), born Seitaro Suzuki (鈴木 清太郎, Suzuki Seitarō) (24 May 1923 – 13 February 2017), was a Japanese filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter. His films are known for their florid visual style, absurd humour, and a playful rejection of traditional film grammar. He made 40 predominately B-movies for the Nikkatsu Company between 1956 and 1967, working most prolifically in the yakuza genre. His increasingly surreal style began to draw the ire of the studio in 1963 and culminated in his ultimate dismissal for what is now regarded as his magnum opus, Branded to Kill (1967), starring notable collaborator Joe Shishido. Suzuki successfully sued the studio for wrongful dismissal, but he was blacklisted for 10 years after that. As an independent filmmaker, he won critical acclaim and a Japanese Academy Award for his Taishō trilogy, Zigeunerweisen (1980), Kagero-za (1981) and Yumeji (1991). His films remained widely unknown outside Japan until a series of theatrical retrospectives beginning in the mid-1980s, home video releases of key films such as Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter in the late 1990s and tributes by such acclaimed filmmakers as Jim Jarmusch, Takeshi Kitano, Wong Kar-wai and Quentin Tarantino signaled his international discovery. Suzuki continued making films, albeit sporadically, until the early 2000s.
Nobuo Kaneko (金子信雄, Kaneko Nobuo; 27 March 1923 – 20 January 1995) was a Japanese actor. His wife was actress Yatsuko…Nobuo Kaneko (金子信雄, Kaneko Nobuo; 27 March 1923 – 20 January 1995) was a Japanese actor. His wife was actress Yatsuko Tanami. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1946 and 1993.
Tetsurō Tamba (Japanese: 丹波 哲郎, Hepburn: Tanba Tetsurō), born Shozaburo Tanba (丹波 正三郎, Tanba Shōzaburō; July 17, 1922 –…Tetsurō Tamba (Japanese: 丹波 哲郎, Hepburn: Tanba Tetsurō), born Shozaburo Tanba (丹波 正三郎, Tanba Shōzaburō; July 17, 1922 – September 24, 2006), was a Japanese actor with a career spanning five decades. He appeared in nearly 300 film and television productions, both in leading and supporting roles, and was the winner of the 1981 Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Supporting Actor. At the height of his career, he was one of Japan's most esteemed and prolific leading men, and worked with many significant directors including Kinji Fukasaku, Shōhei Imamura, Masaki Kobayashi, Masahiro Shinoda and Takashi Miike. Several of his films were identified with the Japanese New Wave movement. He also appeared in several international films, notably as Japanese secret service chief Tiger Tanaka in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Later in his life, Tamba became known for his well-publicized interest in psychic phenomena, publishing several books on the subject and acting as a spokesperson for the Risshō Kōsei Kai new religious movement. He continued acting until 2006, when he died of pneumonia.
Hiroshi Akutagawa (芥川比呂志, Akutagawa Hiroshi; 30 March 1920 – 28 October 1981) was a Japanese stage and film actor and…Hiroshi Akutagawa (芥川比呂志, Akutagawa Hiroshi; 30 March 1920 – 28 October 1981) was a Japanese stage and film actor and director. In his 30 years spanning career, he appeared in numerous stage productions and films by directors such as Shirō Toyoda, Tadashi Imai, Heinosuke Gosho, Akira Kurosawa and Nagisa Ōshima.
Yūnosuke Itō (伊藤 雄之助, Itō Yūnosuke; 3 August 1919 – 11 March 1980) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than…Yūnosuke Itō (伊藤 雄之助, Itō Yūnosuke; 3 August 1919 – 11 March 1980) was a Japanese film actor. He appeared in more than ninety films from 1947 to 1979.
Ryō Ikebe (池部 良, Ikebe Ryō; 11 February 1918 – 8 October 2010) was a Japanese actor. He graduated from Rikkyō…Ryō Ikebe (池部 良, Ikebe Ryō; 11 February 1918 – 8 October 2010) was a Japanese actor. He graduated from Rikkyō University and originally wanted to be a director, but ended up debuting as an actor at Tōhō in 1941. He did not achieve popularity until starring in a series of youth films in the late 1940s. He expanded his acting range in the 1950s, while still frequently appearing in genre films, such as Tōhō tokusatsu films and yakuza films at Tōei. One key role of his was in the 1964 film noir Pale Flower. Apparently, he was cast by Masahiro Shinoda despite saying that he was a "ham actor". Shinoda stated that he cast him because of his sleek features present in films such as Early Spring (1956) and wanted to feel the "quality of a man down on his luck." (at the time of production, Ikebe happened to be at home because of a bad experience he had acting in a play where he couldn't remember his lines). He was also known as an essayist. On 8 October 2010, he died of blood poisoning. He was 92 years old.
Seiji Miyaguchi (宮口精二, Miyaguchi Seiji; 15 November 1913 – 12 April 1985) was a Japanese stage and film actor who…Seiji Miyaguchi (宮口精二, Miyaguchi Seiji; 15 November 1913 – 12 April 1985) was a Japanese stage and film actor who appeared in films of Akira Kurosawa, Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita, Tadashi Imai and many others.
Eitarō Ozawa (小沢 栄太郎, Ozawa Eitarō; 27 March 1909 – 23 April 1988), also credited as Sakae Ozawa (小沢栄), was a Japanese…Eitarō Ozawa (小沢 栄太郎, Ozawa Eitarō; 27 March 1909 – 23 April 1988), also credited as Sakae Ozawa (小沢栄), was a Japanese film actor and stage actor and director. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1935 and 1988, directed by notable filmmakers such as Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō.
Junzaburō Ban (伴淳三郎, Ban Junzaburō; January 10, 1908 – October 26, 1981) was a Japanese comedian and actor. His real…Junzaburō Ban (伴淳三郎, Ban Junzaburō; January 10, 1908 – October 26, 1981) was a Japanese comedian and actor. His real name was Hirosada Suzuki (鈴木寛定, Suzuki Hirosada).
Osamu Takizawa (滝沢 修, Takizawa Osamu; 13 November 1906 – 22 June 2000) was a Japanese actor. He was born in Ushigome…Osamu Takizawa (滝沢 修, Takizawa Osamu; 13 November 1906 – 22 June 2000) was a Japanese actor. He was born in Ushigome, Shinjuku, Tokyo. Starting at the Tsukiji Little Theater, Takizawa participated in a number of theatrical troupes before forming Gekidan Mingei with Jūkichi Uno. He was praised for his performance in Death of a Salesman and also directed a version of The Diary of Anne Frank. Perhaps his most notable film role was in Fires on the Plain.
Ryūji Kita (北 竜二, Kita Ryūji; 1 January 1905 – 16 April 1972) was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 280 films…Ryūji Kita (北 竜二, Kita Ryūji; 1 January 1905 – 16 April 1972) was a Japanese actor. He appeared in more than 280 films from 1937 to 1972.
Tatsuo Saitō (斎藤 達雄, Saitō Tatsuo; 10 June 1902 – 2 March 1968) was a Japanese film actor and director. He appeared in…Tatsuo Saitō (斎藤 達雄, Saitō Tatsuo; 10 June 1902 – 2 March 1968) was a Japanese film actor and director. He appeared in more than two hundred films between 1925 and 1967.
Togo Yamamoto (山本冬郷, Yamamoto Tōgō; November 4, 1886 – March 24, 1952) was a pioneering actor who appeared on stage and…Togo Yamamoto (山本冬郷, Yamamoto Tōgō; November 4, 1886 – March 24, 1952) was a pioneering actor who appeared on stage and film in the United States and Japan.
Tetsuo Kakimoto (柿本 哲夫, Kakimoto Tetsuo; born September 11, 1968), known professionally as Tetsuo Kurata (倉田 てつを…Tetsuo Kakimoto (柿本 哲夫, Kakimoto Tetsuo; born September 11, 1968), known professionally as Tetsuo Kurata (倉田 てつを, Kurata Tetsuo), is a Japanese television, stage film actor singer restaurateur and model. He is best known for portraying Kotaro Minami, the main character in the tokusatsu television series Kamen Rider Black and its sequel, Kamen Rider Black RX. At the age of 19, Kurata made his acting debut in Black, and has since appeared in many other television series and Japanese doramas. He was Playgirl Magazine's Man of the Year for its September 1988 issue. His centerfold was photographed by Naoko Yamaguchi.
Masaharu Satō (佐藤 正治, Satō Masaharu; born July 1, 1946) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator affiliated with…Masaharu Satō (佐藤 正治, Satō Masaharu; born July 1, 1946) is a Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator affiliated with Aoni Production. Satō is best known for the roles of Buffaloman and Sunshine in Kinnikuman, Miyamoto Musashi in Yaiba, Adah in Mushiking: King of the Beetles, Dora-med III in The Doraemons, Master Roshi in Dragon Ball Super, and Dezumozorlya in Bakuryū Sentai Abaranger. He has also voiced numerous characters in Kinnikuman, Dr. Slump & Arale-chan, Fist of the North Star, and Dragon Ball. He also made a voice guest appearance in the third episode of GoGo Sentai Boukenger and Juken Sentai Gekiranger.
Hiroshi Tsuchida (土田 大, Tsuchida Hiroshi) is a Japanese actor affiliated with 81 Produce. He frequently dubs character…Hiroshi Tsuchida (土田 大, Tsuchida Hiroshi) is a Japanese actor affiliated with 81 Produce. He frequently dubs character voices from English-speaking films into Japanese for the local market. He is most well known for his roles as Saizo/Ninja Blue in Ninja Sentai Kakuranger (1994–1995) and Grisha Jaeger in Attack on Titan (2013–2023). Tsuchida's performance in a 1995 episode of Kakuranger, where Saizo is surprised by an assassin who exclaims "Today is Friday in California!" and attempts to shoot him, became a popular Internet meme in the early 2020s.
Ryo Takeuchi (Japanese: 竹内 崚, Hepburn: Takeuchi Ryō; born April 26, 1993), better known by the stage name Ryoma…Ryo Takeuchi (Japanese: 竹内 崚, Hepburn: Takeuchi Ryō; born April 26, 1993), better known by the stage name Ryoma Takeuchi (竹内 涼真) is a Japanese actor, model, and television personality who is affiliated with Horipro. He was a Rissho University Global Environmental Sciences student. He is best known for his role as Shinnosuke Tomari, the main character of Kamen Rider Drive; Ebihara Katsuo in the TBS 2025 drama Jaa, Anta Ga Tsukutte Miro Yo; and Suzuki Shinya in the movie 10Dance.
Daisuke Fukuda (福田 大典, Fukuda Daisuke; born March 18, 1967), better known by his stage name Taiten Kusunoki (楠 大典…Daisuke Fukuda (福田 大典, Fukuda Daisuke; born March 18, 1967), better known by his stage name Taiten Kusunoki (楠 大典, Kusunoki Taiten; sometimes spelt Taitem Kusunoki), is a Japanese actor and voice actor from Tokyo. He is affiliated with Amuleto. He is best known for dubbing roles for Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and many more.
Fuku Suzuki (鈴木 福, Suzuki Fuku; born 17 June 2004) is a Japanese actor from Tokyo. A member of the talent agency…Fuku Suzuki (鈴木 福, Suzuki Fuku; born 17 June 2004) is a Japanese actor from Tokyo. A member of the talent agency Theatre Academy, he made his first appearance in 2006 on the NHK children's programme Inai Inai Baa! before earning a major role in Marumo no Okite and more recently the lead role in the television drama and film Kodomo Keisatsu. Suzuki has also featured as a tarento in various variety and quiz shows, most notably Waratte Iitomo! where he was a "holiday regular". His younger sister, Yume Suzuki, is also a child actress. As a singer, Suzuki is most famous for his 2011 collaboration with child actress Mana Ashida under the name "Kaoru to Tomoki, Tamani Mook". The duo released the hit single "Maru Maru Mori Mori!" which earned them a place on the music show Kōhaku Uta Gassen and the Special Award at the 53rd Japan Record Awards.
Kōtarō Tanaka (田中 弘太郎, Tanaka Kōtarō; born October 24, 1964, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese business…Kōtarō Tanaka (田中 弘太郎, Tanaka Kōtarō; born October 24, 1964, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese business executive and former actor known for Choujin Sentai Jetman, Spy Sorge and Yume no onna. He began his career in 1989, and retired from his career in entertainment in 2005. According to his Jetman co-star Toshihide Wakamatsu's blog, he has since worked in Information Technology.
Masato Uchiyama (内山 眞人, Uchiyama Masato; born May 2, 1986 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor. A fan of tokusatsu…Masato Uchiyama (内山 眞人, Uchiyama Masato; born May 2, 1986 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actor. A fan of tokusatsu, Uchiyama has had a role in several series, most notably Shun Kageyama/Kamen Rider TheBee/Kamen Rider Punch Hopper in Kamen Rider Kabuto and Ren Senjyu in Ultraman Nexus.Ultraman Nexus.
Kenichi Ono (小野 健一, Ono Ken'ichi; born January 11, 1958) is a Japanese voice actor, tarento, and actor from Tokyo. His…Kenichi Ono (小野 健一, Ono Ken'ichi; born January 11, 1958) is a Japanese voice actor, tarento, and actor from Tokyo. His birth name is Kikuo Ono (小野 喜久男, Ono Kikuo). He is best known for voicing as the villain character, Yoichi Takato, from Kindaichi Case Files series.
Makoto Terada (寺田 誠, Terada Makoto; born August 8, 1944), better known by his stage name of Mugihito (麦人), is a…Makoto Terada (寺田 誠, Terada Makoto; born August 8, 1944), better known by his stage name of Mugihito (麦人), is a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator from Musashino, Tokyo. Mugihito was formerly credited under his birth name and also Mugihito Amachi (天地 麦人, Amachi Mugihito).
Cent Chihiro Chittiii (Japanese: セントチヒロ・チッチ, Hepburn: Sento Chihiro Chitchi), also known as Cent (stylized in all caps)…Cent Chihiro Chittiii (Japanese: セントチヒロ・チッチ, Hepburn: Sento Chihiro Chitchi), also known as Cent (stylized in all caps) and Chihiro Katō (加藤千尋), is a Japanese singer, idol and actor. She is a former member of the idol group Bish. She released her debut solo album, Per→cent→age, in August 2023.
Kyōsei Tsukui (津久井 教生, Tsukui Kyōsei) is a Japanese retired voice actor who worked for 81 Produce. On October 1, 2019…Kyōsei Tsukui (津久井 教生, Tsukui Kyōsei) is a Japanese retired voice actor who worked for 81 Produce. On October 1, 2019, Tsukui revealed that he has been diagnosed with ALS and has been using a cane and wheelchair to help with his mobility. On February 17, 2023, Tsukui revealed that he has lost his voice and has retired from voice acting as a result of undergoing a tracheotomy. He is also no longer able to use his arms or legs and only communicates through digital software. During 2025, he wrote a book on his life, typed using eye-tracking technology. In February 2026, it was announced to be published later that year, on April 27, 2026.
Kōji Tsujitani (辻谷 耕史, Tsujitani Kōji; April 26, 1962 – October 17, 2018) was a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator…Kōji Tsujitani (辻谷 耕史, Tsujitani Kōji; April 26, 1962 – October 17, 2018) was a Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and director of audiography credited for voicing many anime and video game characters. He was formerly affiliated with Sigma Seven. He married Kumiko Watanabe in 2012. He died of a stroke on October 17, 2018.
Toshihisa Izawa (伊澤 俊久, Izawa Toshihisa; born September 4, 1955), better known by his stage name Hiroshi Izawa (伊沢 弘…Toshihisa Izawa (伊澤 俊久, Izawa Toshihisa; born September 4, 1955), better known by his stage name Hiroshi Izawa (伊沢 弘, Izawa Hiroshi), is a Japanese actor, voice actor and director. Izawa was born in Tokyo, Japan and is the director of the theatrical troupe Big Face, and a member of Theater Echo. He appeared with fellow Theater Echo member Chihoko Shigeta in the popular "Itadakimasu Gekijō" segment of Raion no Itadakimasu on Fuji TV. Izawa has chaired organizations including the World Music Festival of Peace, the Yomiuri Giants Fan Appreciation Day, and the Tokyo International Marathon.
Sota Fukushi (福士 蒼汰, Fukushi Sōta; born May 30, 1993) is a Japanese actor. He first rose to prominence portraying…Sota Fukushi (福士 蒼汰, Fukushi Sōta; born May 30, 1993) is a Japanese actor. He first rose to prominence portraying Gentaro Kisaragi in Kamen Rider Fourze (2011–2012). He has since had notable roles in television series Koinaka (2015) and My Lover's Secret (2017), as well as films Say I Love You (2014), As the Gods Will (2014), Strobe Edge (2015), My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday (2016), Bleach (2018), and Kaiji: Final Game (2020).
Tsurutaro Kataoka (片岡 鶴太郎, Kataoka Tsurutarō; born December 21, 1954) is a Japanese television personality, actor…Tsurutaro Kataoka (片岡 鶴太郎, Kataoka Tsurutarō; born December 21, 1954) is a Japanese television personality, actor, artist, and former professional boxer. For his role in the 1988 film The Discarnates, he won the award for best supporting actor at the 31st Blue Ribbon Awards, at the 13th Hochi Film Award, and at the 10th Yokohama Film Festival.
Shinobu Sakagami (坂上 忍, Sakagami Shinobu; born 1 June 1967 in Suginami, Tokyo) is a Japanese tarento, essayist, film…Shinobu Sakagami (坂上 忍, Sakagami Shinobu; born 1 June 1967 in Suginami, Tokyo) is a Japanese tarento, essayist, film director, television presenter, singer and actor. Sakagami entered the entertainment industry at the age of 3 as a child actor, marking him one of the longest tenured in the industry for his age.
Masayuki Izumi (泉 政行, Izumi Masayuki; 12 May 1980 – 28 July 2015) was a Japanese actor from Arakawa, Tokyo. He…Masayuki Izumi (泉 政行, Izumi Masayuki; 12 May 1980 – 28 July 2015) was a Japanese actor from Arakawa, Tokyo. He graduated from Komagome Senior High School and Tokai University Second Faculty of Engineering. He was represented with Gift.
Takumi Saitoh (斎藤 工, Saitō Takumi; born August 22, 1981) is a Japanese actor and filmmaker. He directs films under his…Takumi Saitoh (斎藤 工, Saitō Takumi; born August 22, 1981) is a Japanese actor and filmmaker. He directs films under his birthname, Takumi Saito (齊藤 工, Saitō Takumi), spelled differently in Kanji but pronounced the same.
Shinsuke Chikaishi (近石 真介, Chikaishi Shinsuke; born Yasuzō Chikaishi (近石 安蔵, Chikaishi Yasuzō), January 20, 1931 –…Shinsuke Chikaishi (近石 真介, Chikaishi Shinsuke; born Yasuzō Chikaishi (近石 安蔵, Chikaishi Yasuzō), January 20, 1931 – October 5, 2022) was a Japanese actor.
